Giannis Antetokounmpo returned following a six-game absence and scored 23 points in 24 minutes as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 116-110 on Thursday.

• Brook Lopez scored 22 points, Damian Lillard added 15 and Taurean Prince had 14 for Milwaukee, which outscored the Clippers by 15 in the fourth quarter. Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in 13 points apiece. Milwaukee played without forward Bobby Portis, who was suspended earlier in the day by the NBA for 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

  After sitting out one game with right knee pain, Antetokounmpo missed the past five games as well as All-Star weekend with a strained left calf. He was on a minutes restriction against the Clippers and rested for much of the fourth quarter as the Bucks gained control in the final minutes, but he still grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

  Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 25 points. James Harden added 24 points, Ivica Zubac had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 15 off the bench.

  Nuggets 129, Hornets 115

  Nikola Jokic produced 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, Jamal Murray scored 34, and host Denver beat Charlotte for a ninth straight win.

  Aaron Gordon scored 18 points, Julian Strawther had 16 points off the bench and Christian Braun put up 10 points for Denver. Michael Porter Jr. struggled with his shot but pulled down 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who are unbeaten in eight February games.

  Miles Bridges scored a season-high 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Josh Green scored 19 points and Nick Smith Jr. contributed 16 points for Charlotte, which was coming off a 100-97 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Damion Baugh added 14 points, and Moussa Diabate scored 11 points.

  Magic 114, Hawks 108

  Paolo Banchero scored 36 points and helped visiting Orlando erase a 19-point lead and defeat Atlanta.

  The game was tied 103-103 on a basket by Caris LeVert with 2:57 left, but the Magic scored nine straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Cole Anthony and Banchero. Banchero was 11-for-25 from the field to produce his seventh game of 30-plus points, with 11 rebounds and five assists. Franz Wagner added 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Georgia native Wendell Carter Jr. had a season-high 15 rebounds.

  Atlanta got 38 points from Trae Young, his 16th game with 30-plus points this season. LeVert scored 13 and Zaccharie Risacher added 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

  Cavaliers 110, Nets 97

  Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and Cleveland pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Brooklyn in New York.

  Evan Mobley collected 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, Darius Garland contributed 18 points and nine assists, and former Brooklyn center Jarrett Allen finished with 16 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.

  Cameron Johnson scored 18 points for the Nets, who saw their third three-game winning streak of the season end. They have yet to win four straight. Keon Johnson added 16 points and Trendon Watford put up 13.

  Knicks 113, Bulls 111 (OT)

  Miles McBride hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:58 left in overtime to begin the decisive run as New York beat visiting Chicago.

  Karl-Anthony Towns scored the next six points to close out the 9-0 run for the Knicks, who led 113-106 with 1:15 remaining. Towns (32 points, 18 rebounds), Jalen Brunson (22 points, 12 assists) and Mikal Bridges (13 points, 10 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the Knicks, who extended their winning streak to three games despite the absence of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart.

  Josh Giddey (27 points, 16 rebounds) had a double-double for the Bulls, who have lost five straight. Vucevic finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.

  Pacers 127, Grizzlies 113

  Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and nine assists as Indiana rode a 50-point second quarter to a victory over Memphis in Indianapolis.

  Myles Turner racked up 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks for the Pacers. Haliburton had an injury scare when he sustained a right shoulder contusion while crashing into a courtside camera operator late in the third quarter, but he returned to the game in the fourth.

  Desmond Bane scored 23 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost three of four games. Ja Morant posted 12 points and six assists, but he committed five turnovers and shot 4 of 15 from the field.

  Celtics 124, 76ers 104

  Payton Pritchard scored 28 points off the bench and Jayson Tatum recorded a triple-double as Boston stormed out of the All-Star break with a road victory over Philadelphia.

  Pritchard made eight of his team's 24 3-pointers, helping Boston win its seventh straight game away from TD Garden and fourth in a row overall. Jaylen Brown (20 points), Kristaps Porzingis (17) and Derrick White (16 points, 10 rebounds) also made solid contributions for the defending champs.

  Paul George had 17 points to pace Philadelphia, which has lost six games in a row. Tyrese Maxey (16 points), Kelly Oubre Jr. (16) and Joel Embiid (15) were among the other top scorers for the Sixers.

  Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 102

  LeBron James scored 40 points for the second time since turning 40 and also grabbed eight rebounds while leading Los Angeles to a win in Portland.

  Austin Reaves added 32 points and seven assists as the Lakers bounced back from a dreary 100-97 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets one night earlier. Dorian Finney-Smith had 10 points for Los Angeles.

  Deni Avdija had 28 points and five assists and Toumani Camara registered 19 points, seven rebounds and five steals for Portland. Scoot Henderson added 12 points and Shaedon Sharpe had 11 for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fourth consecutive contest.

  Spurs 120, Suns 109

  De'Aaron Fox scored 26 points, including 11 straight San Antonio points in the final 3:18, as the short-handed Spurs defeated slumping Phoenix in Austin, Texas.

  San Antonio played without star center Victor Wembanyama, who on Thursday was ruled out for the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder. Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie added 15 points each off the bench for the Spurs, who won for the second time in three games.

  Royce O'Neale led the Suns with 27 points. Kevin Durant added 22, Bradley Beal had 19 and Devin Booker tallied 17 as Phoenix dropped its fourth game in a row.

  --Field Level Media

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant had $1 million worth of valuables stolen from his home in December, according to TMZ. The items included jewelry, watches, and luxury bags.

• The two-time All-Star's house allegedly was burglarized while the guard played a home game against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 19. On the following day, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported burglary at the home of an anonymous Grizzlies player.

  Morant is the alleged victim of the same theft ring that targeted other notable athletes such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow and Bobby Portis.

  The defendants are listed as Pablo Cartes, Ignacio Cartes, Bastian Freraut, Jordan Sanchez, Bastian Morales, Alexander Chavez and Sergio Cabello, who are facing charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, they each will face up to 10 years in prison.

  --Field Level Media

Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball played an integral role in Wednesday night's win at the Los Angeles Lakers but will sit out Thursday's game at the Denver Nuggets with left ankle soreness.

• Ball scored 27 points against the Lakers, including a driving layup with 14.2 seconds remaining in a 100-97 win that snapped Charlotte's three-game skid.

  Ball, 23, has averaged 27.3 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 34 games (all starts) this season, his fifth with the Hornets. The former All-Star is shooting 41.8 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from 3-point range.

  Ball missed five games bridging January and February due to a sprained left ankle, then sat out against the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 9 and the Orlando Magic on Feb. 12 because of left ankle soreness.

  --Field Level Media

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams received a platelet rich plasma injection to treat tendinosis in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team announced Thursday.

• In his last game on Feb. 12, Williams collected three points and one rebound in 18 minutes in Chicago's 128-110 win over the Detroit Pistons.

  Williams, 23, is averaging 9.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 45 games (35 starts) this season.

  He is contributing 9.6 points and 4.1 boards in 258 career games (210 starts) since being selected by the Bulls with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

  --Field Level Media

Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis "is making good progress" with his left adductor strain but will be sidelined at least two more weeks, the team announced Thursday.

• Coach Jason Kidd also revealed that two weeks from Thursday -- March 6 -- will be the day that Dallas' other injured big men, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, will be re-evaluated for their respective injuries.

  Davis sustained the injury during his Feb. 8 debut with Dallas after being acquired in a blockbuster trade that sent fellow All-NBA star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

  In 31 minutes against the visiting Houston Rockets, Davis collected 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. He was 10 of 18 from the field before departing late in the third quarter due to the injury.

  Davis, 31, missed the Mavericks' next three games prior to the All-Star break. He will be sidelined for at least seven more contests -- including a Feb. 25 road game against the Lakers -- based on the two-week timeline.

  Playing in his 13th NBA season, the 10-time All-Star is averaging 25.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 blocks in 43 games (all starts).

  Lively, 21, hasn't played since Jan. 14 due to a stress fracture in his right ankle. Gafford, 26, sprained his right MCL on Feb. 10. Gafford was averaging a career-high 12.3 points per game.

  The Mavericks also signed center Moses Brown to a 10-day contract. Brown, 25, played in nine games this season for the Indiana Pacers and averaged 3.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 5.1 minutes. He has played for seven different NBA teams, including Dallas for 26 games (one start) during the 2021-22 season when he averaged 3.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.5 minutes.

  --Field Level Media

San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the rest of the season with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, the team announced on Thursday.

• Thrombosis occurs when blood turns into clumps inside a blood vessel, creating a blood clot. ESPN reported that the Spurs believe it is an isolated issue.

  "The condition was discovered when Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game in San Francisco," the Spurs said. "Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season. The team will provide updates as appropriate."

  Wembanyama, 21, was listed as doubtful on the injury report on Wednesday because of illness ahead of the Spurs' game Thursday against the Phoenix Suns in Austin, Texas.

  He is averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-high 3.8 blocked shots in 46 starts this season. He also leads the Spurs with 142 made 3-pointers.

  "It's tough," Spurs guard Chris Paul told ESPN. "Tough more than anything, I think for all of us, knowing how much he means to our team, but more so knowing how much he means to the game and how much he loves to play."

  Paul said Wembanyama's absence will be felt on and off the court.

  "Aside from his basketball ability, his charisma and what he brings into the locker room I think is what we'll miss the most," Paul said.

  Named the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year last season, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama competed in his first All-Star Game last weekend and was the favorite for NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors this season.

  The Spurs selected the France native first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. In parts of two seasons, he is averaging 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.7 blocks in 117 games (all starts).

  This is the second major loss for San Antonio this season. Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history, has been on an indefinite leave of absence since November after suffering a stroke.

  --Field Level Media

Lakers forward LeBron James expects to deal with left ankle discomfort for the rest of the season.

• The injury that pushed him out of the All-Star Game on Sunday but, at 40 and in his 22nd season, he plans to play in regular-season games.

  Listed as questionable ahead of the Lakers' 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, James played 38 minutes. He scored 26 points on 10-for-22 shooting, pulled down seven rebounds and had 11 assists.

  "It's gonna be something that we gotta manage for the rest of the season and going into the postseason," James said after the game. "But I was happy I was able to get some days off ... and make sure I was available for tonight."

  Lakers coach JJ Redick reiterated that the team has had to deal with the issue for months. James has played in 49 of 53 games for Los Angeles.

  "It's something that we've managed all year, and it was sore over the weekend," Redick said after practice on Wednesday. "He was able to do most of practice today. But like it's been all year - like, it's a day-to-day thing - that's just something we've had to manage."

  The Lakers play at Portland Thursday night in the second game of a back-to-back.

  --Field Level Media

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA on Thursday for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

• The NBA said Portis tested positive for the drug Tramadol, a medication used to treat severe pain among adults.

  "I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation," Portis said. "During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I'm responsible for what I put in my body.

  "From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans. I give everything I have on the court and will terribly miss playing games for the Bucks during this time. I will continue to work hard and be ready for our long playoff run. Thank you for your support. I appreciate it more than you know."

  Portis' agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN that his client confused Tramadol with an approved pain medication called Toradol.

  "This was, again, an honest mistake that was made because of the similarity in the names of the drugs and the fact they both serve a very similar purpose," Bartelstein said.

  "... Bobby Portis is absolutely not a drug abuser. Bobby works tirelessly on increasing his performance in all natural, legal, healthy ways, but he made a mistake and took a pill that unknowingly he should not have."

  Portis' ban begins with the Bucks' game against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

  "This is a very difficult set of circumstances for Bobby and our team," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. "He and the Bucks organization respect the NBA/NBAPA Anti-Drug Program and will accept what's been handed down. But we 100 percent support Bobby. Together we will take this opportunity to grow and will have a better and stronger Bobby and Milwaukee Bucks team. He's an integral part of who we are, a huge member of the Milwaukee community, and we look forward to his return."

  Portis, 30, is averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 46 games (seven starts) this season.

  An NBA champion with Milwaukee in 2021, Portis has averaged 11.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 651 career games (153 starts) with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Bucks.

  Entering play Thursday, the Bucks are 29-24 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. With 29 games left on the schedule, the Bucks could have Portis for just four games before the regular season ends April 13.

  According to Spotrac, the suspension will cost Portis nearly $2.9 million in pay.

  --Field Level Media

Forward Javonte Green is expected to join the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers upon completing a buyout and clearing waivers from the New Orleans Pelicans, according to a report on Wednesday night.

• Cleveland would be the fourth team in Green's six-year NBA career. ESPN's report cited unnamed league sources. The Cavaliers are tied for the league lead with 44 wins. Cleveland resumes play after the All-Star break with back-to-back games -- at the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday and home to face the New York Knicks on Friday.

  In 50 games this season, Green is averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 21.8 minutes. In his last game with the Pelicans, however, when he started in place of Zion Williamson (rest), Green played a season-high 34 minutes. He collected nine points, seven rebounds and five steals in a win over the Sacramento Kings.

  Green is shooting 44.6 percent from the field, under his career mark of 51.9 percent. In 245 games, 73 as a starter, he is averaging 5.5 points, 3.2 boards and 1.1 steals in 21.8 minutes.

  He divided his first five seasons between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls before signing a one-year contract with the Pelicans in August.

  --Field Level Media

San Antonio All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is listed as doubtful because of illness for the Spurs' game Thursday against the Phoenix Suns in Austin, Texas.

• Wembanyama, 21, is averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.8 blocks in starting all 46 games he has played this season. The league's rookie of the year last season, Wembanyama competed in his first All-Star Game last weekend in San Francisco.

  The Spurs play the Suns at the Moody Center on the campus of the University of Texas, where Phoenix All-Star Kevin Durant played in 2006-07 before turning professional after one college season. San Antonio hosts the Detroit Pistons on Friday at the same arena.

  --Field Level Media

Just hours before the Charlotte Hornets visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, Mark Williams remained miffed.

• The Charlotte center was dealt to the Lakers prior to the trade deadline before Los Angeles rescinded the deal 48 hours later, apparently due to issues pertaining with Williams' physical.

  The Hornets reportedly asked the NBA to look into the Lakers' rationale in scrapping the deal. Williams had missed time with a foot injury earlier this season but was now healthy and had played in 23 games.

  The reversal meant that Williams was in the visiting locker room in Los Angeles openly discussing a highly odd situation before his first on-court appearance since the trade.

  "My agent told me," Williams told the Charlotte Observer of how he learned the trade has been rescinded. "I didn't think I had failed my physical. That didn't even cross my mind. The night I got traded I played hella minutes. I didn't think in any world that was possible.

  "Since I've been back since the start of the year, I've played games with a lot of minutes. I feel like every injury I've had has been well-documented and I've recovered and been 100 percent since. So, I don't know what went into that decision. I think that's up to them."

  Williams played in 30 or more minutes in eight straight appearances before receiving 25 minutes of action in his last game before the trade on Feb. 5.

  Charlotte was slated to receive Cam Reddish, rookie Dalton Knecht and a first-round pick in the deal for Williams.

  There have been some suggestions that the Lakers might have gotten cold feet and felt they had overpaid for Williams.

  Williams, 23, is averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this season. In three seasons with Charlotte, Williams has been limited to 85 games (56 starts) due to injuries.

  Williams certainly saw the irony that his return game with the Hornets comes against the Lakers.

  "Can't write it any other way, right?" Williams said. "NBA script. It's just what it is."

  --Field Level Media

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday will be available for a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night after missing the past four games due to a shoulder injury.

• Holiday last played on Feb. 4, when he had six points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals in a 112-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

  In 44 games (all starts) this season, Holiday has averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 boards and 3.7 assists.

  Boston comes out of the All-Star break sitting in second in the Eastern Conference at 39-16.

  The Celtics will be without big man Xavier Tillman (knee) on Thursday.

  Oft-injured big man Joel Embiid (knee) of the 76ers is slated to play.

  --Field Level Media

Trying out a new format for the NBA All-Star Game apparently didn't sit well with the masses, with this year's edition of the event bringing in the second-fewest average viewers, Front Office Sports reported Wednesday.

• Only the 2023 All-Star Game averaged less viewers (4.6 million) than the 4.7 million who tuned into this year's on TNT platforms. There was a 13 percent dip in viewership compared to 2024.

  Instead of having one singular game, the league ran a four-team tournament that featured three games. The first squad to reach 40 points in each game would be declared the winner, and Team Shaq (coached by Shaquille O'Neal) ended up on top after beating Team Rising Stars and Team Chuck (Charles Barkley as coach).

  Each of the past three All-Star Games have failed to garner an average audience of six million. No All-Star Game prior to those had come up short of that mark.

  All-Star festivities on Saturday night -- Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest -- were also a dud. Those events averaged 3.4 million viewers, setting an all-time low.

  --Field Level Media

Lakers head coach JJ Redick said there won't be any minutes restriction placed on newly acquired superstar Luka Doncic as Los Angeles returns to action one day early.

• Doncic missed 6 1/2 weeks with a left calf strain -- nearly all of that with the Dallas Mavericks -- and played just 47 total minutes in his first two games in a Lakers uniform. Redick said that's set to change.

  "He'll be fine," Redick told reporters Tuesday. "That extra five, six days of All-Star break was good for him. His minutes will be up tomorrow. And I don't think that there's going to be any sort of restrictions going forward."

  The Lakers host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, the only game on tap in the return from the All-Star break, in a rescheduled game from January when wildfires in Los Angeles forced a postponement.

  The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Mavericks on Feb. 2 in a deal that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas.

  Doncic sustained the calf injury during a 105-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day. He missed eight games prior to that with various injuries.

  Doncic, 25, is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 24 starts this season.

  --Field Level Media

The Brooklyn Nets are planning to waive injured forward Bojan Bogdanovic, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

• An earlier report said the 35-year-old veteran needed a second surgical procedure on his left foot and would not play this season.

  He had the initial surgery last April after sustaining the injury during the New York Knicks' first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

  Bogdanovic joined the Nets in the July 2024 trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. He has averaged 15.6 points, 3.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 719 games (572 starts) over 10 seasons with six NBA teams.

  According to ESPN, Brooklyn plans to sign former lottery pick Killian Hayes to a 10-day contract and convert two-way guard Tyrese Martin's deal to a standard NBA contract.

  Hayes, 23, was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft by Detroit. The point guard has averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 210 games (145 starts) in four seasons with the Pistons (2020-24).

  Martin, 25, is averaging 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 36 games (six starts) this season with the Nets.

  --Field Level Media

Toronto Raptors rookie Ulrich Chomche will miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury, the team announced Wednesday.

• The 19-year-old big man from Cameroon sustained a partial proximal MCL tear during a G League game last week.

  He appeared in seven games for Toronto, posting totals of five points, eight rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. Playing on a two-way contract, he averaged 7.1 points, 7.6 boards and 2.9 blocks in 33 games with affiliate Raptors 905.

  Chomche was a second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2024 NBA Draft.

  --Field Level Media

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is serving as his own agent after parting ways with Thad Foucher of Wasserman, NBA insider Chris Haynes and ESPN reported Tuesday night.

• A big payday could be on the horizon for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is eligible for a super-max extension with the Thunder in the offseason. That deal would be worth roughly $300 million.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, is in the thick of the MVP conversation this season and leads the league in points per game (32.5). He is also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.9 steals.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished second in MVP voting last season, has guided the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference at the All-Star break, 44-10.

  --Field Level Media

The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a two-year, $3 million deal with veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV, his agent told ESPN on Tuesday.

• Walker, 26, was a first-round pick (18th overall) by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 and has also played for the Los Angeles Lakers (2022-23) and Brooklyn Nets (2023-24).

  He owns career averages of 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 322 games (88 starts). Walker spent time in the 2024-25 preseason with the Boston Celtics but was waived on Oct. 19.

  George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group told ESPN that Walker had an NBA opt-out in his current contract with Lithuania's Zalgiris Kaunas of the EuroLeague.

  --Field Level Media

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Darrell Armstrong was arrested Saturday and faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

• The Dallas Police Department confirmed the arrest Sunday. The Mavericks said in a statement that they had suspended an unidentified employee.

  "The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident involving a member of our staff and are gathering all relevant information surrounding the incident," the team said in a statement Sunday. "We take this matter seriously. The employee has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of legal proceedings. ... We will refrain from further comment while proceedings are ongoing."

  Armstrong, 56, is accused of hitting another individual with a gun and threatening to shoot that individual, whom television station WFAA in Dallas identified as a woman. Dallas police were responding to a call in the early hours of Saturday morning.

  Armstrong has worked as an assistant coach for the Mavericks since 2009. His NBA playing career (1994-2008) totaled 840 games for the Orlando Magic, the then-New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers, the then-New Jersey Nets and Mavericks.

  --Field Level Media

LeBron James revealed a few hours before the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday that he will not play due to ankle and foot pain.

• "You won't see anything from me tonight, unfortunately. I will not be in uniform tonight," James said at a pregame press conference. "Still dealing with ankle and foot discomfort, so I will not be playing tonight, unfortunately. You know, I hate that."

  James was selected to his record-extending 21st All-Star Game. He was set to play for Team Shaq in the new four-team mini-tournament format.

  The 40-year-old missed one recent game, Feb. 8 against the Indiana Pacers, due to left ankle soreness.

  James is averaging 24.3 points, 9.0 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game in 48 games for the Los Angeles Lakers, missing just four games with injury or illness.

  The new All-Star format will see two semifinal games, the first pitting Team Kenny (captained by Kenny "The Jet" Smith) against Team Chuck (Charles Barkley) and the second pitting Team Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) against Team Candace, a team made up of Rising Stars selections captained by Candace Parker.

  --Field Level Media

Mac McClung continued his annual tradition of stealing the NBA spotlight for a day, as the G League standout won his third consecutive NBA slam-dunk title during All-Star Saturday in San Francisco.

• McClung has played in just five minutes of one NBA game this season for the Orlando Magic -- and five games over the past five seasons -- but his leaping ability remains at an elite level. Using his showmanship, McClung delivered four consecutive perfect scores to get the best of the San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle in the final round.

  Earlier in the evening, the Miami Heat's Tyler Herro won the 3-point contest, while the Cleveland Cavaliers' duo of Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell won the skills competition.

  In the dunk competition, McClung jumped over a person in all four of his successful attempts, including one that also included a car in the first round and a double dunk for his third perfect score when he jumped over somebody spinning on a hoverboard.

  The title-clinching final dunk came over the 6-foot-11 Mobley, who was standing on a small platform.

  "Truly, stuff like this doesn't happen without standing on the shoulders of a lot of people," McClung said on the TNT broadcast. "I had a lot of help. People were opening gyms to fit a car in. People were allowing me to use their car. I'm just really grateful right now."

  After three titles in three years, McClung hinted at the end of his one-hit wonder days.

  "This might be it for me, but we'll see," he said. "If they want me back then I'll think about it."

  Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls and Andre Jackson Jr. of the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the dunk contest.

  In the 3-point contest, Herro won with a score of 24 in the final round to get the best of Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who posted a score of 19, and Buddy Hield of the host Golden State Warriors, with a score of 23.

  Herro became the fifth Miami Heat player to win the long-distance shooting competition after James Jones (2011), Daequan Cook (2009), Jason Kapono (2007) and Glen Rice (1995).

  Herro went first in the final round, with Garland eliminated when he followed with a 19. Hield could have forced an extra round against Herro if he made all five two-point shots on his final rack, but he missed the fourth of the bunch.

  "I got lucky," Herro said on the TNT broadcast. "I thought Buddy was going to run off the last five there, so it was a great competition. Buddy's a great shooter, a bunch of great shooters that competed, so just happy to be here."

  Hield had the highest score of the first round with a 31, matching the most ever in a round with the Warriors' Stephen Curry (2021) and the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (2023).

  Five competitors were eliminated in the 3-point first round: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Norman Powell (Los Angeles Clippers) and two-time defending champion Damian Lillard (Bucks).

  In the skills challenge, the Cavaliers delivered a final-round time of an even one minute to get the best of the Warriors' Draymond Green and Moses Moody.

  The four-team skills challenge consisted of an obstacle-style course that had two passing tests, three shooting stations, one more passing station followed by a half-court drive to the basket and layup.

  Mobley also was a part of the Cavaliers' three-player squad that won the skills challenge in 2022.

  The San Antonio Spurs' duo of Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama were disqualified from the opening round Saturday after not making a legitimate shot attempt at any of the three shooting stations, while simply concentrating on time.

  The rookie squad of Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards also was eliminated in the first round.

  --Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green didn't hold back when asked by a reporter Saturday whether he thinks the NBA game is boring.

• "Absolutely," was Green's direct reply, per reporters.

  The NBA still has plenty of interest, as evidenced by a new series of broadcast and streaming deals that will generate about three times more money than the previous deal. Attendance continues to increase to record-setting levels, and players demand and receive higher-than-ever salaries.

  But questions persist about whether the on-court product has actually improved, with a steady shift towards higher scoring and a faster-paced game. And Green, speaking on All-Star Saturday in San Francisco, believes it has not.

  The four-time NBA champion referenced an interview with the late Kobe Bryant in which he called the game "accidental basketball," saying, "It's all penetrate and pitch. You may make the shot, you may not."

  Bryant's words resonate with Green, who said, "He couldn't have been more right. ... You want to be one of the teams that aren't playing an accidental game. That's the challenge."

  Green said it's "refreshing" to go up against players like LeBron James who he considers "thinkers" who can find and exploit weaknesses on the opposing team rather than simply try to out-run them or shoot more 3s.

  "Every possession is some type of chess move," Green said of games like the recent matchup where Green's Warriors lost to James' Los Angeles Lakers 120-112. "You don't get that today in the NBA, often. ... You don't just get that on a regular basis. It's just who can run faster, who can hit more 3s, it's no substance. I think it's very boring."

  Green's comments come at a time when former NBA players aren't shy about saying the game was better during their careers, whether that is the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or 2000s.

  The All-Star Game is Sunday in San Francisco.

  --Field Level Media

Former NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard and former women's star Sue Bird are among the 17 finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.

• Coaches Billy Donovan and Mark Few and the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's team also are among the 17 finalists named Friday. The new class will be announced on April 5 during the NCAA Final Four at San Antonio.

  Also named finalists are former NBA players Marques Johnson and Buck Williams, referee Danny Crawford, coach Jerry Welsh and women's players Jennifer Azzi, Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore.

  Chosen from the women's veterans committee was former player Molly Bolin, the international committee pushed forth former coach Dusan Ivkovic and the contributors committee nominated Micky Arison (owner) and Tal Brody (ambassador).

  "Selection as a Finalist for the Class of 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is a remarkable achievement, signifying a career of excellence and lasting influence on the game," Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a news release. "This recognition goes beyond statistics and accolades -- it honors those who have defined eras, inspired generations, and elevated basketball through their talent, leadership, and dedication.

  "Whether as players, coaches, teams, or contributors, each Finalist has left an indelible mark on the sport, and we are proud to celebrate their extraordinary impact."

  The induction ceremonies will be held Sept. 6 at Springfield, Mass.

  Anthony ranks 10th in NBA history with 28,289 career points and was a 10-time All-Star. He won three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016), led Syracuse to the 2003 NCAA title and was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team in 2021.

  Howard was a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11) and eight-time All-Star. He ranks 10th in NBA history with 14,627 career rebounds and 13th with 2,228 blocked shots.

  Bird won five Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020), four WNBA titles and two college crowns at UConn. She was a 13-time WNBA All-Star and holds the league's career assists record of 3,234.

  Donovan coaches the Chicago Bulls after previously leading the Oklahoma City Thunder and has 421 regular-season victories. He also led Florida to back-to-back NCAA titles (2006, 2007) while accumulating 502 college wins.

  Few guided Gonzaga to the NCAA title game on two occasions (2017, 2021) and was the second fastest coach in Division I history to reach 700 wins. He has won 20 games with the Bulldogs in 25 consecutive seasons.

  The 2008 U.S. Olympic team went 8-0 while winning the gold medal and prevailed by an average of 27.9 points. The co-captains were Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade and other members included LeBron James, Chris Paul, Anthony and Howard.

  Johnson helped UCLA win the NCAA title in 1975 under legendary coach John Wooden and was a five-time NBA All-Star, while Williams was a stellar rebounder and defender while starring for the New Jersey Nets and Portland Trail Blazers with the latter club reaching the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.

  Crawford was an NBA referee from 1985-2017 and officiated in over 2,000 regular-season games and 300 playoff games, including being chosen to work the NBA Finals in 23 consecutive seasons. Welsh led SUNY Potsdam to the 1981 Division III title and two other Final Four appearances and later coached at Division I Iona.

  Azzi led Stanford to the 1990 NCAA title and won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. Fowles won four Olympic gold medals, retired as the WNBA's leading rebounder (4,006) before being passed and was an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion. Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and won two NCAA titles at UConn and picked up two Olympic gold medals.

  Bolin was known as "Machine Gun" Molly for her scoring exploits and set a Women's Professional Basketball League single-game record with 55 points on March 2, 1980. Ivkovic is a Serbian coach who won EuroLeague championships in 1997 and 2012 and was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.

  Arison has owned the Miami Heat since 1995 and has oversaw three titles (2006, 2012, 2013). Brody won 10 Israeli League titles as a player for Maccabi Tel Aviv after being an All-American for Illinois.

  --Field Level Media

Shaquille O'Neal is staying with TNT Sports on a new contract worth more than $15 million per year, Front Office Sports reported Friday.

• The news means the cast of "Inside the NBA" is staying together even as TNT is set to license out the show to ESPN starting next season.

  TNT was the odd network out in the NBA's recent TV rights negotiations, as NBC and Amazon joined previous rightsholder ESPN in inking deals for basketball games.

  That left TNT without a need for pregame and postgame NBA shows. In a trade with ESPN, TNT is licensing "Inside the NBA" to the Worldwide Leader in exchange for a package of Big 12 college football and basketball games.

  Per Front Office Sports, Charles Barkley and Kenny "The Jet" Smith are staying on "Inside the NBA" although Barkley had interest from NBC and Amazon.

  "I'm informing NBC that I will not accept their offer," Barkley said on the podcast he co-hosts with Ernie Johnson, the anchor of "Inside the NBA." "I'm gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon ... My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports."

  Barkley's most recent contract extension, signed in 2022, pays him $21 million per year.

  As for O'Neal, the Hall of Fame center best known for his time with Kobe Bryant on the Lakers, he also heard from NBA and Amazon, according to a CNBC report.

  NBC is in talks with Carmelo Anthony for a studio analyst position and Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as color commentators, per Front Office Sports.

  --Field Level Media

Naz Reid collected 27 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 116-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday in Minneapolis.

• Anthony Edwards added 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game skid despite scratching Rudy Gobert (back spasms). Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points.

  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished nine assists to lead the Thunder, who never led in the game -- the first time that happened all season.

  Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams scored 20 points. Chet Holmgren (11 points, 12 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10 points, 12 rebounds) each notched a double-double.

  Pelicans 140, Kings 133 (OT)

  CJ McCollum scored 43 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime, and host New Orleans ended a 10-game losing streak by defeating Sacramento.

  Trey Murphy III added 18 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds while Jose Alvarado scored 18 for New Orleans.

  Zach LaVine collected 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings, whose three-game winning streak ended. Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 28 rebounds, and Malik Monk had 24 points and nine assists.

  Warriors 105, Rockets 98

  Stephen Curry scored a game-high 27 points and Golden State survived a fourth-quarter comeback from Houston to claim a road victory.

  The Warriors improved to 3-1 since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler III, who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Golden State (28-27) pulled above .500 entering the All-Star break. Brandin Podziemski put up 18 points for Golden State. Draymond Green contributed 13 points and eight assists, and Moses Moody recorded 10 points.

  Aaron Holiday scored a season-high 25 points while Jock Landale added 13 points (11 in the fourth quarter) and eight rebounds for the Rockets. Nate Williams tallied a season-best 11 points in 18 minutes, also a season-high total.

  Clippers 120, Jazz 116 (OT)

  Norman Powell scored a season-high 41 points and came up big in overtime while lifting Los Angeles over Utah in Salt Lake City.

  Powell scored nine of the Clippers' 12 OT points. James Harden added 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Ben Simmons made his Clippers debut, days after the Brooklyn Nets bought out his contract and he signed with Los Angeles. He totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in a reserve role.

  Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen also logged 20 points.

  Mavericks 118, Heat 113

  Dante Exum scored a season-high 27 points to lead seven Dallas players in double figures as the Mavericks beat visiting Miami in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.

  Max Christie scored 19 points, Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 and Kessler Edwards had a season-high 15 for the Mavericks, who won for the fourth time in their last five games. Naji Marshall scored 12 points, Brandon Williams had 11 and Olivier-Maxence Prosper netted 10. The short-handed Mavericks were without eight injured players, including Kyrie Irving (right shoulder soreness) and Klay Thompson (left foot sprain).

  Tyler Herro matched his season high with 40 points for Miami, which lost its fourth straight. Kel'el Ware scored 17 points, Kyle Anderson added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Alec Burks had 12 points off the bench.

  --Field Level Media